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SOURCE: TH01
ATTRIBUTION:
SOURCE DESCRIPTION: Political and security analyst in Bangkok
PUBLICATION: as needed
SOURCE RELIABILITY: B
ITEM CREDIBILITY: 2
SPECIAL HANDLING: none
DISTRIBUTION: analysts
SOURCE HANDLER: Rodger/Matt
This is just politics. Sanan is a venial and canny kingmaker. There's no
one less likely to have pure motives of reconciliation than he.

He is part of the old school of provincial politicians/businessmen who are
skilled at maneuvering blocks of MPs into sitting governments. All this is
is political maneuvering in the lead up to future elections. Bhumjaithai
have their amnesty bill. Peau Thai is trying to show they are a mainstream
party and should not be blocked from forming a government. The Democrats
(and the PM in particular) are under a constant rain of criticism, but are
cheered by their good poll numbers.

Until recently, in Thai politics there was never such a thing as a
permanent enemy. What we will see is a return to that in a way as blocks
and groups form and reform without regard to recent events. Thaksin and
his supporters will continue to foster adversarial positions since every
day crisis does not return, the government can maintain legitimacy in
their hard-line legal position against Thaksin and the detained Red Shirt
leaders.

Thaksin will have to wary of men like Sanan who can pull every string to
bring themselves to power. Thaksin knows Sanan would just like to play the
part of peacemaker, but has every intention of keeping Thaksin out of the
country as his return would represent an end to his and so many others'
dreams to assume the PMship someday.

It also seems to me that Sanan, Bhumjaithai and others may all try to
publicly get behind a move to pardon or bring Thaksin back to play to the
masses, but then let the Democrats and others block it. Don't be surprised
if you hear of a surprise deal between government partner parties and the
Red Shirts/Peau Thai, but any deal will still tend to freeze out Thaksin's
return behind the scenes. The goal is to get to power to start spending
money on the back of Thaksin popularity, but block Thaksin from returning
and usurping control of the government from the traditional politicians.

Overall, in light of an impending succession, it is very unlikely that any
sort of reconciliation like the Red Shirts want is in the offing. After so
much constant anti-royalty rhetoric, the military/bureaucracy/government
is locked into a very conservative mode to ensure a consistency of the
status quo of the state.

Thai deputy PM to seek meeting with ex-PM Thaksin

Text of report in English by Thai newspaper The Nation website on 30
September

[Unattributed report from the "Breaking News" section: "Sanan to seek
meeting with Thaksin"]

[Deputy] Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart said Thursday that he will
seek a meeting with former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as part of
his campaign for political reconciliation.

Sanan was speaking during a press conference held on his occasion of
visiting the Pheu Thai Party as part of the reconciliation drive.

Sanan said he has not known yet when he could travel to visit Thaksin
because he has yet to visit several sides in the country, including the
military, other political parties, businessmen and universities to hear
their proposals on reconciliation.